Golf cup



July 18, 1933. J. Q sfUT-z 1.918,994

GOLF CUP Filed Jan. 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5/2 lh I 624i JNVENTOR. a dem 6. Jia/z Bymuww ATTORNEY.

J. C. STUTZ July 18, 1933.

GOLF CUP Filed Jan. 22 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR da/2 6 Y1/fz ATTORNEY IHM latented July 18, 1933 Laisse/i PAT-ENT oFFicE Jonnc. s'rUTZ, or KANSAS oiTY, MIssoUii-I GOLF cui? Appneaaon filed January 22, 1931.Y serial no. 510,466.

rlhis invention relates to golf cups for loc tion in putting green holes to receive balls used in playing golf land like games, a principal object of the invention `being to provide an auxiliary bottom tor a golf cup, ivnereby soiling of balls by matter ordinarily accumulating in the normal bottoni of acup may be avoided. t

lt is also an obj ect of the invention to provide means for. ejecting the balls from the 1Further objects ot' the invention are to provide means operable by golf clubs or the like tor adjusting an auxiliary cup bottom 1n a cup and effecting upward movement of the auxiliary bottoni tor ejecting the balls.

ln accomplishing these and other objects ot the invention which Will be apparent 1n the course of the following description, improved details 'ot structure are provided, Yforms of which are illustrated inthe accompanying dran/ings, wherein: Y

1 is a vertical section through a golf cup embodying the invention, showing a latch retaining an auxiliary bottom in spring tensioning position, a ball in thecup, and a flag statt mounted in the normal cup bottom and displacing a lid onthe auxiliary bottom. z

.F ig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 illustrating' its auxiliary bottom in position to which it is elevated by the spring Afor supporting the ball at the top of the cup.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. l.V

F ig. il is an elevation Vof a portion orn the cup on the line e, Fig. l, illustrating a latch tor the auxiliary bottom, and a lever for releasing the latch, an ear of the Vbottom being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5 5, Fig. et, illustrating the beveled characier or" the outer arm ot the lever. Y

Fig. 6 is a section through a modified form of the improved cup, illustrating an auxiliary bottom member resiliently engaging the cup shell, a flag staff being shown `fraginentarily.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 illustrating the auxiliary member in elevated position.

Fig. 8 is a section on the liner 8 8, Fig. 6. A Fig. 9 is a section through a modified form or golf cup shell and adjacent portions'of a i puttingy green, illustrating indented Vportions in the shell forming abutments to' receive tong hooks for removingl the cup.

. Referring in detail to the dravvings lfdesignates a shell, preferably cylindrical in form, ,and comprising the body of a golf' cup that may be installed in a hole -inA ay putting green. 5

2 designates a bottom member including a web portion 3 forming anannular seat and having an axial openingel, a socket' depending from the web having anVOpeniHgy vregistering With the openingof the Web, and

relation to form the apertures.` n i Vertically movable in the shell .is an auxiliary bottom member 10 having a convex upper face and preferably comprising a conical plate having drainage openings '12 and an axial opening 14 registering With the opening 4to admit the lag'stat to the socket.

The auxiliary member is provided with. diametrically opposite ianges or ears 16 and` 17 operating in grooves 18 and 19 producedV by outstriking vertical portions Vof the shell to form channel-like diametrically opposite. ribs Vhaving side Walls 20 and 21 and Webs 22.V The vertical ribs thus provide inwardly tacing recesses to receivethe ears on the aux- Y 9@ iliary bottom member and form a guide lfor substantially centering the member in the cup and retaining the member. inV engagey ment With'the cup'.

travel of the auxiliary bottom member by engaging the ears 16 and 17 thereon.

A spring comprising a coiled wire having approximately the saine diameter as the shellis seated on the bottom member 2, thus forming a resilient support for the auxiliary bottom member, and providing ample space for admitting the flag staff shaft to the socket 5.

Mounted on a pin 32Vtixed to theweb of the rib which forms the groove 19,` on the right hander1 Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is a pivotal latching' lever having a lower end pro-V vided with a notch 35 forming a hool 36 to engage the upper tace of the ez 17 that operates in the groove 19. spring 38, fixed to said depending portion, has an arcuate lower end engaging the wall 21 of the rib to Vurge. the laten into ear-engaging position.

A latch-operating lever l0, having pivotalk mounting on a. pin Ll1 supported by the web of said rib and the adjacent plate 26, includes a Vlatch engaging annee provided with' an arcuate Atip engaging the back tace able by the nose ofV a golf club head or the.

like, whereby the lever may be tilted .to displace the latch and release the spring-pressed auxiliary bottomY member. The lever is s aced sutliciently from the shell to permit tlie pivotal movement thereof.

The shell is further provided with a ilat spring 52 located in the' groove 19 and having an outwardly curved portion for providmay engage so that the bottom member may be. retained in substantially level position in the shell to permit the spring to bear equally against all portions ot the periphery of said member. Y

The ears and conical auxiliary bottom member have dimensions adapting them to permit movement of the `member past the spring abutment into latching position, the spring yielding suiiiciently to permit passage thereby.

IThe auxiliary member further includes a lid o1' cover 56 having an arcuate semi-spherical body portion snugly engageable in the opening 14 andllanges 5S engageable with the portions of the member around the opening. The lid is hinged on a pin 59 locatedon achord ot the member tor swinging movement downwardlv awa 1 trom the o enino'.

kthe member moving downwardly over ing an abutment beneath which the ear 16y The hinged connection of the lid kwith the kmember preferably comprises a wire spring GO having one end lixed to, the lid, a coil mounted on the pm and an opposite end iixed to the lower surface ot the auxiliary bottom member, whereby'the coiled wire forms a resilient means tor urging the lid into the opening ot the auxiliary member.

lllhen the auxiliary bottom member is latched in spring depressing position, the

dag stall may be pressed against the lid to displace the same 'for seating the stati' in the sopliet of the bottom member 2.'

When the staiji is removed the lid will return to closing position and form a' dome-like convexlapex' for the conical bottom to cause balls tofroll Ytowards the peripheral portions of the bottom and lodge against the sidesof the shell. rne lid will yield sutliciently to prevent balls from bouncing therefrom.

`When one or more balls lodged in the cup are to be removed, a club may be inserted in the cup to engage the under surface of the lever arm i8 and release the latch, thus causing the spring to move the auxiliary bottom member toward the top ot the cup and locate the balls in easily available position.

The auxiliary member may be restored to depressed position by pressing down upon the same `with a club or the like, the ear .17 of the inclined face ot the latch and shitting the same laterally against the influence of the spring 3S until the ear has passed below the latch hook. .Y

The spring 38 moves the latch into retaining position and also moves the releasing lever into retractive position where its relatively thin upper edge is parallel with the upper edge ofthe cup and its lower edge Oilers a` shoulderwith which a hook may engage without slipping.

lThe opposite ear 16 incidentally is carried to pass the latchin g abutment on the opposite side of the shell,-tor example by' inserting the shaft to center theauxiliary bottom, and permit the coil spring to shift the bottom.

vThe modiiied form ot cup illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 includes preferably an apertured permanent bottom 66 having a concave upper Vface and an auxiliary bottom member including' an apertured conical body portion 68 having an outer periphery spacedV substantially trom the inner wall of the shell, and leaf springs 70 'having arms lixed to the lower surface of the body, and downbent,

Voutwardly extending portions 72 having rolled ends 74 frictionally engaging the inner suri't'ace of the shell. The'body has an axial opening to admita flag statt, and drainage openings.

The member may be moved downwardly to seat thenrolled ends 'ot the spring'on the bottom member 66 by applying pressure to the body portion 68. The rolled edges of the er portions of the shell, and most of such inathe cup from the hole.

lt is apparent that when the auxiliaryA terial will pass through the drainage openl ings. Then the member is formed as shown in Figs. 6 to S, dirt and Water will pass over the periphery of the member to the permanent bottom, and through the drainage apertures in the concave permanent bottom.

rIhe modified forin of bottoni members may be inserted in present golf cups to form an auxiliary bottom to support the golf balls above tne dirt and mud collecting in the bottom of the cups.

in the modified forni of shell shown in VF ig. 9, abutments 78 are formed by outstriking diametrically opposite portions of the shell to form sockets having shoulders to receive hoolrs S on prongs S2 for lifting bottom is in the cup, as illustrated in Fig. l,

the tong hooks may engage under the abutments formed by the plates 26 for lifting ie cup.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A golf cup including a shell having an outstruck rib forming a vertical groove, a movable bottom member having a tongue operating in said groove for guiding said auxiliary member in verticalmovement, said rib having a portion indented to form a boss engageable by the tongue for latching the bottoni member.

2. A golf cup including a shell having outstruck vertical ribs forming grooves, a bottom member having an axial opening locatcd in the shell, an auxiliary bottom member having a convex upper face and an axial V3. A golf cup including a bottom having an axial opening and a shell provided with diametrically opposite vertical grooves, an auxiliary bottom member having a convex upper face and an axial opening, tongues on said auxiliary member operating in said grooves, a coiled spring mounted on the first y named bottom member` and engageable by said auxiliary member to impress the spring upon downward movement of .said auxiliary member in the shell, a spring pressed latch having pivotal mounting in one of said grooves and having a shoulder toengage one of said tongues for latching the auxiliary member in spring-depressing position, a lever having pivotal mounting on the shell and including an arm operating in'said groove.

for displacing the latch to permit the spring to move theauxiliary member, and a laterally arcuate upwardly tapering arm exterior to the groove, and yielding means on said shell diametrically opposite said latch forming an abutment to receive the other of said tongues. i

4. A golf cup including a shell having diametrically opposite outstruclr vertical ribs i having webs and side walls forming inwardly facing, vertical grooves, 'and an instruck boss on one of said ribs projecting into one of said grooves,.a coiled spring mounted in the shell, means for supporting the spring, a

movable bottom member comprising a spider having a convex upper face and provided with opposite ears operating in said grooves and having portions engageable with said spring to tension the same and condition the spring to move said member upwardly in the shell, said member being laterally movable su'ciently in the shell to enable the same to pass said boss, a notched latch pivoted to the other of said ribs 'opposite said boss, a spring on said latch engaged with said rib to urge the notched portion of the latch into engagement with one of said ears, a lever pivotally mounted in the latch-containing rib having an arcuate tip engaged with the latch for dis-Y placing the same to permit the spring to move the member upwardly in the shell, and a plate fixed to the shell in spaced relation with the bottom of one of said rib grooves forming a stop to limit upward movement of the` mem` ber in the shell.

JOHN C. STUTZ. 

